Tayul Monastery – Biggest statue of Padma Sambhava

Location

Tayul Monastery is situated 6 km from Keylong above the village of Satingri. Monastery lies between 32°33′42″N and 77°4′23″E. The altitude of Monastery is 3900 m above the sea level.

About

Tayul monastery is a Buddhidt monastery in the Bhaga valley of Lahaul and Spiti. The meaning of Tayul is chosen place. An interesting legend associates with the construction and naming of the monastery. In the 17th century Lama Serzang Rinchen of khan region of Tibet while performing his circumambulation of the sacred peak Drilburi, noticed a small glade in the juniper forest above Kyor and Tashikyang villages on the opposite side of the valley. Lama Serzang Rinchen pointed his fellow pilgrims that the site was blessed for the construction of monastery. Thus came up the monastery and its name Tayul.

History

The Drugpa (Dogpa) Lama, Serzang Richen of the Kham region of Tibet established the Tayul Monastery in the 17th century. Legend has it that Serzang, while making the meritorious circumambulation of the holy peak Drilburi, spotted a small glade in the juniper forest above Kyor and Tashikyang villages on the opposite side of the valley and told his fellow pilgrims, “Look, over there, that is a suitable and auspicious place for a gompa”.Source: Wikipedia

Structure of Tayul Monastery

The Tayul monastery has 12 foot statue of Padmasambhava his two materialisations Sighmukha and Vijravarashi. The statue is decorated with elaborate wall painting. The library contains the Buddhist scriptures. The major attraction of the monastery was the hundred million mani wheel. By turning of wheel perceptive beings are said to be blessed by the compassion of God. The mani wheel is famous as the self turning one. The mani wheel rotates all by itself on special and famous occasion. The last time when it turned itself was in 1886.